Former TUF Fighter: Julianna Pena In For A New World

One of the biggest stories going around prior to this past Saturday’s UFC 169 event was the knee injury suffered by recent Ultimate Fighter winner Julianna Pena.

I just happened to be talking with another former TUF competitor, Gilbert Smith, after news of Pena’s incredibly horrible knee injury was reported. She had suffered a torn ACL, MCL, PCL, meniscus and other damage, likely keeping her on the sidelines for at least a year – while UFC president Dana White stated two years out of action for her.

Smith, who himself suffered a partially torn MCL prior to his most recent fight, said he felt “sorry for her.”

Some reports said Pena was “attacked” by a jealous teammate. Others said it was just a training injury. Either way, Smith knows she is in for the long haul in terms of working her way back.

“She’s maybe done,” he said. “Two years on the sidelines out. When she does come back, if she does, the whole game will have changed. Two years not competing……

“She doesn’t have a lot of fights in her career, she is still pretty new, still adjusting to fighting at a high level.